On June 13, H. E. Ms. Louise Bergholm, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Bulgaria, gave a reception on the occasion of the national holiday of the country.

The Grand Hotel Sofia Garden was filled with representatives of the diplomatic missions, officials, journalists and friends of Sweden. The focus of the event was the presentation of the new Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Sweden in Sofia - Mrs. Zoya Paunova, Executive Director of AstraZeneca Bulgaria.

The national holiday of the country is the Day of the Swedish Flag. On June 6, 1523, came the end of the Kalmar Union, uniting the three kingdoms, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, under the rule of the Danish Queen Margaret I. Upon its dissolution, Sweden gained its independence and became a constitutional monarchy. Gustav Eriksson, who led the anti-Danish uprising, was elected to be its king, known in history as Gustav the First, the founder of the Vasa dynasty. He made numerous reforms that strengthened the Swedish centralized monarchy and left behind a well-functioning and financially stable state. The Swedes believe that this is the beginning of the modern Swedish state.

Since June 2005, June 6 is the national holiday of Sweden. Prior to that, a celebration was held on that date in Stockholm, where the Swedish King Gustav XVI handed out flags.

Photos: "Diplomatic Spectrum" and Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden.

Above: H. E. Ms. Louise Bergholm, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Bulgaria (right) and the new Honorary Consul General - Ms. Zoya Paunova, Executive Director of AstraZeneca Bulgaria

Below: H. E. Ms Louise Bergholm; H.E. Mr. Marián Jakubócy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic; H. E. Ms Zakia El Midaoui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco, H. E. Ms. Sri Astari Rasjid, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia and H. E. Mons. Anselmo Guido Pecorari, Ambassador, Head of the Mission of the Holy See, Apostolic Nuncio and Archbishop; H. E. Mr. A. S. Babar Hashmi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.